Power hammer



Dec. 12, 1967 c. v. ADAMS EITAL 3,357,315

POWER HAMMER 6 SheetsSheet 1 Filed June 8, 1966 INVENTORS CAMPBELL V. ADAMS HENRY G.WARR|NGTON Dec. 12, 1967 c. v. ADAMS ETAL 3,357,315

IOWER HAMMER Filed June 8, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CAMPBELL. ADAMS BY HENRY G. ARRINGTON FIG.4

1957 c. v. ADAMS ETAL 3,357,331,

POWER HAMMER 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 8, 1966 INVENTORS CAMPBELE ADAMS HENRY G. ARRINGTON Dec. 12, 1967 c. v. ADAMS ETAL 3,357,315

POWER HAMMER Filed June 8, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN'IURS CAMPBELL V. ADAMS I HENRY G. WARRINGTON 2 1 a? a 3i? 4 HZ J 12 14.

ATT'Y Dec. 12, 1967 Filed June 8,

FIGII c. v. ADAMS ETAL 3,3373% POWER HAMMER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS CAMPBELL ADAMS BY HENRY G. WARRINGTON 1967 c. v ADAMS ETAL. 3,357,315

POWER HAMMER 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 8, 1966 INVENTORS United States Patent 3,357,315 POWER HAMMER CampbellV. Adams, Chicago,lll and HenryGJWarrington, Palm Beach, 'Fla., assignors' to 'Vulcan "Iron Works Inc., Chattanooga, Tenn., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 8, 1966, Ser. No. 556,119 :11 Claims; (631. 91-277) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A single acting pile driver is provided with-a remotely controllable selector valve to .lift the hammer piston through either a short or a normal stroke. Suitable actuating cams are provided on the slide bar of the pile driving hammer to release the fluidized pressure acting below the .piston tending to-raise the. piston atom of two vertical piston positions. Separate cams'on the slide'bar actuate the steam control valve.

This invention relates broadly'to power hammers and more particularly to hammers in whicha ram is .autodriving blows against an anvil which in turn transmits the blows to thepileJOne common type of 'hammer'known as the single-acting hammer utilizes the motive fluid on the upstroke of the piston to raise the ram and thereafter exhaust the motive fluid to permit the piston and the ram to fall by gravity and strike a blow.

It has been found that in the large 'sizejhammers it is often required during the initial stages of driving a pile to deliberately reduce the intensity of'the blows on "the pile. This is readilyaccomplished by 'reducing'the length of stroke of the piston thereby reducing the distance that the ram falls. Accordingly 'it'is known to provide singleacting power hammers of comparatively large'size with means for lifting the piston through a normal upstroke, and additionally with means for tripping the piston -'to release thepistonat the end of a short upstroke. Heretofore such change in the length'ofthe'stroke' has'required -an attendant to'twice climb up the leaders to the pile driving-hammer during a pile-driving operation to manually effect-a change in thestroke of the hammer'so'that -ashortstrokedsprovided for initially driving the pile,

and thence for the attendant to later return up the leaders to the hammer, to make requisite-adjustments to restore stroke to original normal length. Such alternation of the hammer is'both hazardous and time delaying during the "pile driving operation.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pile driving hammer'which overcomes the-aforementioned crude and laborious method previously employed.

A further object of the present invention is'to provide a new and improved pile'driving hammer.

Yetanother object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved pile driving hammer which may be remotely and automatically actuated to selectively provide for changing the stroke of the piston from its normal to a short stroke.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterizes the inventionwill be pointed outwith particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

In accordance with these and other objects, there is provided animproved pile driving hammer of the type including a piston movable within a cylinder and having a ram connected to and driven by the piston. Suitable valve means are provided including a multi-position valve element which is movable between a first position wherein pressurizedfluid issupplied to the cylinder below the piston to raise the piston, and thence the valve element is movable to a position to exhaust the fluid from below the piston to permit the piston and ram to drop by gravity. vThe valve element is actuated between its first and second .positions by a pair of suitable trip arms or camfollowers,

a'first one of which is permanently secured in place on the valve element stem and is cooperablewith a cam effective when the piston is near the bottom of its-stroke 'to trip the valve to supply pressurized fluid to the cylinder thereby to raise the piston. The second trip arm is-slideably mountedon the valve stem and thereby is selectively responsive to one of-a pair of cams, a first one of the camsactuating the-valve element when the piston approaches the top of its normal upstroke, and the other of the cams being effective to trip the valve element when the piston approaches the top of its short upstroke intermediatethe length of the normal strokerln accordance with the presentinventiona control member is provided for remotely and automatically moving the second trip to make it responsive selectively to either the normal stroke cam or the short stroke cam thus eliminating the need for an attendant to climb up to the pile hammer to make the modification.

Forv a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. his a fragmentary front elevational view of a power hammer according to the present invention showing the valve and valve operating elementsand illustrated wit-h the piston beginning its .upstroke;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the power hammer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the .power hammer of FIG. 1, taken alongiline 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the valve operating elements in the position of FIG. 1, and 'drawn to a larger scale;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the valve and valve operating elements of FIG. 4;

(FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a power hammer according to the present inventionzshowing the valve and valve operating element and illustrated with the piston approaching the top of its normal stroke;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the power hammer ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the power hammer of FIG. 6, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a detail view of the valve and valve operating elements of FIG. 6, drawn to a larger scale;

FIG. 10 is a side detail view of the valve and valve operating elements of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a power hammer according .to the present invention showing the valve and valve operating elements and illustrated with the piston approaching the top of its short stroke;

'FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the power hammer of FIG. 11;

'FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the power hammer of FlG. 11, taken along line1313'of 'FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the valve and 11, and drawn to a large scale; and

FIG. is a side elevational view of the valve and valve operating elements of FIG. 14.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5, there is fragmentarily illustrated a percussion type pile driving hammer 2b of the single-acting type, although it is understood that the invention may be equally applicable to other types of hammers. The hammer includes a cylinder 22 closed at its upper end by a suitable head 23 and at its lower end by suitable gland packing assembly 24, FIG. 3. A piston 25 is slideably received within the cylinder 22 and is operatively connected to a suitable ram by means of a piston rod 26 extending through the packing assembly 24.

For controlling the admission and exhaust of fluidized pressure, hereinafter referred to as steam, into the cylinder '22, there is provided a steam chest 30 including a valve chamber 31 and a rotatably mounted multi-position valve element 32. Moreover there is provided a suitable steam passageway 34 communicating between the valve chamber 31 and the cylinder 22 below the piston 25 therein. An exhaust passageway 35 communicates between the valve chamber 31 and the atmosphere. Steam supply means or passageway 36 provides for connection to the source of steam for operating the hammer 20. Moreover the cylinder 22 is provided with a relief port 38 near its upper end which serves to open the upper end of the cylinder 22 above the piston 25 to the ingress and egress of the atmosphere, and further serves to provide for entrapping a quantity of air to cushion the upward stroke of the piston, as will hereinafter become apparent and as best illustrated in FIG. 8. Referring now again specifically to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the valve element 32, in the illustrated embodiment, is effective to direct steam from the passageway 36, through the steam chest 30 and the valve chamber 31, into the steam passageway 34 and below the piston 25, thereby to drive the piston 25 and associated components upwardly. However rotation of the valve element 32 approximately an eighth turn counterclockwise will bring a recess 32a in the valve element to connect the steam passageway 34 with the exhaust passageway 35, as hereinafter more fully described, thereby to exhaust the steam from below the piston 25 and to permit the piston 25 and associated components to drop by gravity.

To control the movement of the valve element 32 between its steam admission position and its exhaust position, the valve element 32 is provided with a valve stem extending through the end wall of the' valve chamber 31 and carrying suitable control members. More specifically there is provided an admission trip arm or cam follower 41 fixedly secured to the valve stem 40 in any suitable manner as by a roll pin 41a and effective, when pivoted clockwise, to oscillate the valve element 32 into the steam admission position as indicated in FIG. 3. Additionally there is provided an exhaust trip arm or cam follower 42 (FIG. 7), which, when rocked counterclockwise, is effective to move the valve element 32 from the admission position illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 to an exhaust position as illustrated in the remainder of the figures. The exhaust trip arm 42 is slideably mounted on the valve stem 40, and to this end, the valve stem 40 may be of any suitable configuration but in the illustrated embodiment has a square cross section so that the trip arm 42 may be provided with a cooperating square opening 42a slideably received on the valve stems 40 to permit relative sliding movement, but prohibiting relative rotational movement between the trip arm 42 and the valve element 32.

For actuating the trip arms 41 and 42, there is provided a slide bare 44 vertically movable with the piston 25 and containing a plurality of cams for controlling the trip arms 41 and 42. More specifically, near the top of the slide bar there is provided an admission cam 45 aligned to cooperate with the admission trip arm 41. Additionally there is provided a first exhaust cam 46 positioned on the slide bar 44 to one side of the admission cam 45, and a second exhaust cam 47 positioned on the other side of the exhaust cam 46 from the admission cam 45 so that the cams 45, 46, and 47 move in a fixed side by side relation with the slide bar 44 vertically past the trip arms 41 and 42 in response to vertical movement of the piston 25. The first exhaust cam 46 is positioned on the slide bar 44 to actuate the trip arm 42 in response to a normal stroke of the piston 25, while the exhaust cam 47 is positioned along the slide bar 44 corresponding to the short stroke of the piston 25.

As will be understood from FIGS. 1 through 5, as the piston 25 and its associated ram drop by gravity during its power stroke, the slide bar 44 will move downwardly with the piston 25 and the admission cam 45 will strike the admission trip arm 41, rotating the valve element 32 clockwise to the position best illustrated in FIG. 3 and providing for the admission of fluid below the piston 25, thereby to initiate the upstroke of the piston 25 and associated ram.

To control the length of the upstroke of the piston 25 selectively to either its normal stroke, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 10, or to limit the upstroke to the short stroke of the piston 25, as illustrated in FIGS. ll through 15, the exhaust trip arm 42 is positioned along the valve stem 40 so as to align with a selected one of the exhaust cams 46 and 47, thereby to trip the valve element 32 at the proper time to provide the desired stroke. Referring, for example, first to the normal stroke of the piston 25, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 10, the exhaust trip arm 42 is positioned on the valve stem 40 so as to align with the line of travel of the exhaust cam 46 which controls the normal stroke of the piston 25. More specifically as the piston 25 reaches the position illustrated in solid in FIG. 8, the exhaust cam 46 strikes the exhaust trip member 42, shutting off the admission of steam and releasing the same from the cylinder 22. Thereafter the piston 25 will continue to rise under the influence of inertia and momentum. It will be understood that as the top of the piston 25 approaches the relief port 38 the air from above the piston 25 will be expelled through the relief port 38. However as soon as the top of the piston 25 passes the relief port 38, there will be a chamber 49 of air entrapped above the piston 25 which will be compressed and serve as a cushion for the piston 25 and associated ram thus preventing the piston 25 from striking against the head 23 of the hammer as Well as storing the energy of compression for assisting in accelerating the downstroke of the piston 25.

In order to remotely and selectively provide for a short stroke of the piston 25, there is provided a fluid actuated thrust cylinder 51. The thrust cylinder 51 is provided with a fluid actuated piston 52 which may be remotely controlled through a fluid line 53 extending through a threaded opening 54 in one end of the cylinder 51. The piston 52 is spring biased by a compression spring 55 to the left, but may be moved to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 4, 9, and 14, upon the admission of pressurized fluid through the fluid line 53 to overcome the return bias of the spring 55. Admission of pressurized fluid 53 shifting the piston 52 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 14, is effective to shift the exhaust trip arm 42 axially along the valve stem 40 so as to align the exhaust trip arm 42 for actuation by the exhaust cam 47 governing the short stroke of the piston 25. To this end the exhaust trip arm 42 is provided with a generally upwardly extending trip projection 57 having an arcuate slot 58, and the piston 52 is provided with a piston rod 59 extending out of one end of the thrust cylinder 51 and extending into the arcuate slot 58. A pair of spaced collars 60 on respective sides of the trip projection 57 loosely engage the sidesof the slotted projection so as to drive the exhaust trip arm 42 along the valve stem 40 in response to-movement of the piston 52, while at the same time permitting relative oscillatory movement of the exhaust trip arm 42 relative to the piston rod 59.

Thus it will be understood that -when it is-de'sired to provide -for a short'stroke'of the piston 25, the "thrust cylinder 51 is activated with fluid :pressure through the fluid line 53 to drive the piston,'-andthere-fore theexhaust trip'arm'42, to the right as illustrated FIG. 1'4 so as to alignthe exhaust -trip arm 42 5 for actuation bythe eX- haust cam -47 correspondingto a short stroke "of the piston 25. Release of the fluidized pressure from the'fluid line 53 'will cause thespring 55 to drive the 'pi'ston 52 "back to the left, as viewed in FIG. 14, to the position illustrated in FIG. '9 and thereby'returnt-heexhaust trip arm 42 'for actuation 'bythe exhaust carn tdto'return the hammer 20 to its normal stroke.

When it is "clesiredtosecure the exhaust' trip *arm 42 inits normalposition,over a long period or time, it may readily be 'fixe'd by removing-the fiuidline: 53 and threading a cap screw intoithreaded hole-62,"FIG.9,of the piston 52.

Fluid is bled from the steam chest 30 through'asteam line 64- and intothe rod end of 'the cylitid'efSlto provide a return force on the piston 52More specifically fluid of the' same pressure-is-supplied to'both-sides of the piston 25, but'since'the exposed area-"of the pistn=at the rod 'side'thereof is smaller by' the area of therod'than that of the opposite side, the net result ofthefforce -will drive 'thepiston'52"to the right,=as illustrated in-FIGS.'4, 9, and 14. Moreover the force of' the 'fluid'on the-"rod end of the cylinder 51 will 'be fiectiev to-provide apositive return drive to the I piston 25- While -at-' the's'ametime preventing'flutterorvibration of the piston.

From the foregoing description, "the "operation of the improved" percussion hammer is believed clear. However, briefly, it is understood that movement of the piston 25 within the cylinder22=is-"controlled by' the -valve-element '32. The valve element 32' has a'valve'stem'on'which is permanently-secured-an admission trip arm 41, designed to pivot the valve-element into thesteam admission position wherein the stea'm"is admitted to the cylinder 22 .return drive to the piston'2 while at the-same. time .pre-

determined point in the operation of-thei-hammer, there is provided the slide bar 44.containing:a plurality of-cams operatively associated with the: trip :arms. More specifically an admission cam 4 5Iiseifective to-:engagethe-admission. trip arm 41 when the..piston -2 5 is atthe lower portion of'its stroke, thereby to admit-steam=-within-the cylinder 22 and to raise the pistonfFor a normal stroke blow of t-heram connected to the pistomzthe piston will take a full or normal stroke asillustrated in FIGS. 6 through 10. Under these conditionsthe exhaust"cam"46 is provided which will engage the exhaust trip arm 42 at the preselected point to exhaust the steam from the cylinder 22 to atmosphere. Alongside the exhaust cam 46 is a second exhaust cam 47, positioned for a short stroke. In order to bring the exhaust trip arm 42 into operative relation with the short stroke exhaust cam 47, there is provided the thrust cylinder 51 which is eifective to shift the exhaust trip arm 42 laterally into alignment with the exhaust cam 47, thereby rendering the exhaust cam 46 ineffective to actuate the exhaust trip arm 42 and at the same time rendering the exhaust cam 47 effective to engage the exhaust trip arm 42.

Advantageously the percussion hammer 20 according to the present invention can be readily controlled to provide a full normal stroke, or to provide a comparatively shorter stroke, thereby resulting in a lighter blow whenever such a lighter blow is desirable. Moreover such change in the length of the piston stroke is readily accomplished remotely and automatically by an operator without the necessity of an attendant climbing up to the percussion hammer' and making manualinodificationor alternations of the device.

"apparent that numerous other modifications:and 'embodimentsmay be devised by't'hose skilled in' the' art and it is intended by the appended claims" to c'over all modifications *and embodiments which will fall-within the'true spirit and scope of the" present invention.

What is claimed 1 as *newan'd desire'd to be"secured by 5 Letters Patent of "theUnite'd' States is:

The combination in a pile driving hammer of:

a piston selectively operable in* said 'cylin'der 1 through -a normal and a short" upstroke,' and adapte'd -to drive a ram,

valve"meansincl-uding a valve'chamber and a'multi- 1 position valve element movable in said' chamber,

passageway means connecting said valve chamber'with a said cylinder-below said piston,

exhaust passage *means connecting said valve chamber to ambient,

supply means 'adapte'dforconnecting said' valve chamber 1 to a source of pressurize'd -fiuid,

said valve element being movable between a first position connecting said passageway means with 'said "supply means to lift -saidipiston and a-second position connecting said passag'eway means with said exhaust passage means to release said piston,

cam means for moving said valve element to its -first position when l said pistonis 'near the bottom of -its stroke to supply pressurized fluidto sai'd cylin'der to 'raise said' piston and cam means remotely selectable to respond'tosaid 'piston approaching the top 'of' its normal stroke :and the "top of its short stroke for: moving said -valve element to its second position to exhaustsaidcyliuder thereby remotely and selectively pr oviding for "movement of said-piston through a-normal+orshort stroke.

2. The combinationin a pile 'driv'inghammenof:

1 a cylinder,

a piston selectively operable in said cylindenthrough a normal-and a shortupstroke; and adapted, to drive a ram,

valve means "'including' a valve chamber and a multiposition 'valve element J movable in said chamber, said valve element being rotatable andprovide'd with a valve-"stem extending' out of' said valve'chamber,

- passageway meansconnecting-said valve' chamber with said-cylinder below said piston,

exhaust passage means connecting said-valve chamber to ambient,

supply'means'-adapted"for connecting said valve chamber' to a source of pressurized fiuid,

said valve element being movable between a first position connecting said passageway means with said supply means and a second position connecting said passageway means with said exhaust passage means,

actuating means for moving said valve element to its first position when said piston is near the bottom of its stroke to supply pressurized fluid to said cylinder to raise said piston, and

actuating means remotely selectable to respond to said piston approaching the top of its normal stroke and the top of its short stroke for moving said valve element to its second position to exhaust said cylinder thereby remotely and selectively providing for movement of said piston through a normal or short stroke and including a normal stroke cam and a short stroke cam both movable with said piston, and a cam follower remotely selectable automatically to cooperate with a predetermined one of said cams to provide for remote control of said piston to attain its normal and its short stroke.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cam follower is slideably mounted on said valve stem, and said cams are mounted for movement along side-by-side paths so that shifting of said cam follower along said valve stem will render said cam follower effective to be contacted by a selected one of said cams.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 above and including a control member connected to shift said cam follower for actuation by the selected one of said cams.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 above wherein said control member includes a connecting portion movable in a path parallel to the axis of said valve stem, and said cam follower is provided with a projection having an arcuate slot receiving said connecting portion so that said cam follower may be slid axially on said valve stem by said control element for engagement with a selected one of said cams while permitting oscillatory movement of said follower in response to the selected one of said cams.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 above wherein said control member is a fluid thrust cylinder.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 above wherein said connecting portion is spring biased to hold said follower operatively aligned with the normal stroke cam.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 6 above wherein said connecting portion is fluid pressure biased to hold said follower operatively aligned with the normal stroke cam.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 3 above and including a slide bar vertically movable with said piston, said cams being carried on said slide bar.

10. The combination in a pile driving hammer of:

a cylinder,

a piston selectively operable in said cylinder through a normal and a short upstroke, and adapted to drive a ram, valve means including a valve chamber and a multiposition valve element movable in said chamber, passageway means connecting said valve chamber with said cylinder below said piston,

exhaust passage means connecting said valve chamber to ambient,

supply means adapted for connecting said valve chamber to a sour-cc of pressurized fluid, said valve element being movable between a first position connecting said passageway means with said supply means and a second position connecting said passageway means with said exhaust passage means,

actuating means for moving said valve element to its first position when said piston is near the bottom of its stroke to supply pressurized fluid to said cylinder to raise said piston, and

actuating means remotely selectable to respond to said piston approaching the top of its normal stroke and the top of its short stroke for moving said valve element to its second position to exhaust said cylinder thereby remotely and selectively providing for movement of said piston through a normal or short stroke,

said cylinder being provided with an atmospheric exhaust port spaced below the top of said cylinder and above the upper travel of the short stroke of said piston.

11. The combination in a pile driving hammer of:

a cylinder,

a piston selectively operable in said cylinder through a normal and a short upstroke, and adapted to drive a ram,

valve means including a valve chamber and a multiposition valve element movable in said chamber,

passageway means connecting said valve chamber with said cylinder below said piston,

exhaust passage means connecting said valve chamber to ambient,

supply means adapted for connecting said valve cham her to a source of pressurized fluid,

said valve element being rotatable between a first position connecting said passageway means with said supply means and a second position connecting said passageway means with said exhaust passage means, and being provided with a valve stem extending out of said valve chamber,

actuating means including a cam movable with said piston and a cooperable cam follower connected to said stem for moving said valve element to its first position when said piston is near the bottom of its stroke to supply pressurized fluid to said cylinder to raise said piston, and

actuating means remotely selectable to respond to said piston approaching the top of its normal stroke and the top of its short stroke for moving said valve element to its second position to exhaust said cylinder thereby remotely and selectively providing for movement of said piston through a normal or short stroke.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 378,745 2/1888 Warrington 91--2l8 746,158 12/1903 Reed 91-338 873,056 12/1907 Lake 9'1218 2,265,922 12/1941 Murray 91-321 2,647,373 8/1953 Bell .Q 912l8 346,190 7/1886 Bryan 91279 2,224,132 12/ 1940 Barnes 91279 2,742,267 4/1956 Meir 91-277 MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner.

PAULE. MASLOUSKY, Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION IN A PILE DRIVING HAMMER OF: A CYLINDER, A PISTON SELECTIVELY OPERABLE IN SAID CYLINDER THROUGH A NORMAL AND A SHORT UPSTROKE, AND ADAPTED TO DRIVE A RAM, VALVE MEANS INCLUDING A VALVE CHAMBER AND A MULTIPOSITION VALVE ELEMENT MOVABLE IN SAID CHAMBER, PASSAGEWAY MEANS CONNECTING SAID VALVE CHAMBER WITH SAID CYLINDER BELOW SAID PISTON, EXHAUST PASSAGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID VALVE CHAMBER TO AMBIENT, SUPPLY MEANS ADAPTED FOR CONNECTING SAID VALVE CHAMBER TO A SOURCE OF PRESSURIZED FLUID, SAID VALVE ELEMENT BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION CONNECTING SAID PASSAGEWAY MEANS WITH SAID SUPPLY MEANS TO LIFT SAID PISTON AND A SECOND POSITION CONNECTING SAID PASSAGEWAY MEANS WITH SAID EXHAUST PASSAGE MEANS TO RELEASE SAID PISTON, 